Japanese cruiser Asama
| Company type | Armored cruiser |
|---|---|
| Industry | Naval military vessel |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Warship |
Asama (淺間) was the lead vessel of the Asama-class cruiser series of armored cruisers (Sōkō jun'yōkan) constructed for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the late 1890s. Due to Japan's limited industrial capabilities at the time, the ship was built in the United Kingdom. During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05), she took part in significant engagements such as the Battle of Chemulpo Bay and the Battle of the Yellow Sea, emerging unscathed, though her fortunes changed at the Battle of Tsushima. At the start of World War I, Asama conducted operations to locate German commerce raiders but failed to find them and suffered severe damage after running aground near Mexico in early 1915. The extensive repairs required more than two years, after which she primarily served as a training vessel for the remainder of her operational life. Over her career, she completed twelve training voyages before being incapacitated by another grounding incident in 1935. Subsequently, Asama was used as a stationary training platform until dismantling occurred between 1946 and 1947.
Background and description
Following the First Sino-Japanese War, the 1896 Naval Expansion Plan was developed, calling for the addition of four armored cruisers alongside four more battleships. Since Japan lacked domestic shipbuilding capacity for such vessels, all were commissioned from British shipyards. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), upon evaluating Russia's naval construction efforts, concluded that the battleships initially ordered would be inadequate to counter the Imperial Russian Navy. Due to financial constraints that limited further battleship procurement, the IJN opted to increase the number of armored cruisers from four to six, which were more cost-effective. This updated strategy is frequently referred to as the "Six-Six Fleet". Unlike many contemporaneous armored cruisers designed primarily for commerce raiding or protecting overseas territories and trade lanes, Asama and her half-sisters were intended to perform as fleet scouts and participate directly in the battleline.
Measuring 134.72 meters (442 ft) in overall length and 124.36 meters (408 ft) between perpendiculars, Asama had a beam of 20.48 meters (67 ft 2 in) and an average draft of 7.43 meters (24 ft 5 in). Her displacement was 9,710 metric tons (9,560 long tons) under normal load conditions and increased to 10,519 metric tons (10,353 long tons) at deep load. The vessel's metacentric height measured 0.85 meters (2 ft 9 in). The ship was staffed by a complement of 676 officers and enlisted personnel.
Propulsion was provided by two 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, each connected to a single propeller shaft. Steam was generated by twelve cylindrical Scotch marine boilers, delivering a combined output rated at 18,000 indicated horsepower (13,000 kW). Designed for a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph), Asama attained 22.07 knots (40.87 km/h; 25.40 mph) during sea trials powered by 19,000 indicated horsepower (14,000 kW). The cruiser could carry up to 1,410 tonnes (1,390 long tons) of coal, enabling a range of approximately 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) when cruising at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
The principal armament across all "Six-Six Fleet" armored cruisers consisted of four 20.3 cm/45 Type 41 naval guns arranged in twin turrets located fore and aft of the superstructure. Their secondary battery comprised fourteen Elswick Ordnance Company "Pattern Z" quick-firing (QF) 6-inch guns, with only four mounted outside armored casemates on the main and upper decks; these upper deck mounts featured protective gun shields. For close-range defense against torpedo boat threats, Asama was outfitted with twelve QF 12-pounder 12-cwt guns and eight QF 2.5-pounder Hotchkiss "Yamauchi" guns. Additionally, she carried five 457 mm torpedo tubes: one above water at the bow and four submerged tubes distributed evenly on both broadsides.
All armored cruisers within the "Six-Six Fleet" shared a similar armor layout with minor variations; notably, the two ships of the Asama class utilized less resilient Harvey armor. The waterline belt extended along the entire hull length, varying in thickness from 178 millimetres (7.0 in) amidships to 89 millimetres (3.5 in) at both bow and stern sections. This belt measured 2.13 metres (7 ft 0 in) in height, with approximately 1.52 metres (5 ft 0 in) submerged under normal conditions. Above this belt was an upper strake of armor 127 millimetres (5.0 in) thick, spanning from the top edge of the waterline belt up to the main deck, covering a distance of about 65.42 metres (214.6 ft) between forward and aft barbettes. Oblique armored bulkheads measuring 127 mm enclosed the ends of the central armored citadel.
The barbettes, gun turrets, and frontal casemate armor were all constructed with 152 mm thickness, while the sides and rear portions of casemates were protected by 51 mm plating. The deck armor measured 51 mm in thickness, whereas the conning tower boasted substantially thicker protection at 356 mm.
Construction and career
The contract for the cruiser Asama, which took its name from Mount Asama, was finalized on 6 July 1897 with Armstrong Whitworth. Prior to the contract, the vessel had already been laid down at their Elswick shipyard on 20 October 1896 as a speculative project. The ship was launched on 21 March 1898 and reached completion by 18 March 1899. Departing for Japan the following day, Asama arrived in Yokosuka on 17 May. On 30 April 1900, the cruiser served as the platform for Emperor Meiji during a naval review held off Kobe. In July 1902, Asama acted as flagship for Rear-Admiral G. Ijuin while part of the delegation sent to the United Kingdom to participate in the Coronation Review for King Edward VII at Spithead on 16 August. Additionally, she made port visits to Antwerp in July and Cork in August. During the outbound journey, the ship conducted trials with advanced British radio communication technology between Malta and Britain.
Russo-Japanese War
At the onset of the Russo-Japanese War in February 1904, Asama was assigned to the 2nd Division within the 2nd Fleet, though operationally attached to Rear Admiral Uryū Sotokichi's 4th Division for missions near Seoul, Korea. This unit's responsibility included escorting troop transports to Chemulpo, Seoul's western port, and neutralizing the Russian protected cruiser Varyag and gunboat Korietz, which were stationed as guardships there. The landing of troops was successfully completed overnight on 8/9 February, after which Japanese vessels exited the harbor at dawn to establish a blockade outside, respecting international law that prohibited hostilities within neutral ports. That morning, Japan informed Russia that hostilities had commenced following a surprise attack by the IJN on Port Arthur during the previous night. Later that day, the two Russian ships attempted to break out. The majority of Japanese fire targeted Varyag, with Asama striking her at least twice—damaging her bridge and creating a hull breach below the waterline that caused severe listing. Despite this, the Russian vessels returned to port and scuttled themselves that afternoon. Asama emerged from the battle unscathed and subsequently rejoined Vice Admiral Kamimura Hikonojō's 2nd Division.
In early March, Kamimura was ordered to lead an augmented 2nd Division northward to stage a diversion near Vladivostok. While searching for Russian forces, Japanese cruisers shelled Vladivostok’s harbor defenses on 6 March with minimal impact. Upon returning to Japan a few days later, the division was tasked with escorting transports carrying the Imperial Guards Division to Korea before joining the blockade of Port Arthur. At this point, Asama was reassigned to Rear Admiral Dewa Shigetō's 3rd Division. Vice Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō, commanding the Combined Fleet, successfully enticed part of the Russian Pacific Squadron into battle on 13 April, including Vice Admiral Stepan Makarov's flagship battleship Petropavlovsk. During this engagement, Asama engaged Russian cruisers ahead of their battleships before withdrawing behind Tōgō's battleship line. When Makarov observed five Japanese battleships approaching, he ordered a retreat toward Port Arthur but struck a newly laid Japanese minefield; his flagship sank within two minutes following a magazine explosion, resulting in Makarov’s death along with 677 crew members. Additionally, the battleship Pobeda suffered mine damage.
On 23 June, Asama was present when the Pacific Squadron attempted an unsuccessful sortie aimed at reaching Vladivostok; however, upon encountering the Japanese battleline shortly before sunset, Rear Admiral Wilgelm Vitgeft, now commanding the squadron, decided against engagement due to being outnumbered and ordered a return to Port Arthur rather than risk a nocturnal battle.
Battle of the Yellow Sea
On the morning of 10 August 1904, while Asama was engaged in coaling operations, Russian forces departed Port Arthur once more in an effort to reach Vladivostok. The cruiser was unable to participate in the initial combat and only joined the fray around 19:00, opening fire from approximately 9,000 meters (9,800 yd) against the damaged Russian battleship Poltava. The shell fell short, prompting Russian cruisers to rally around their battleship. By 19:25, Asama was heavily engaged with Russian vessels at a closer distance near 7,500 meters (8,200 yd). Although Rear Admiral Hikohachi Yamada’s 5th Division, consisting of older cruisers, arrived around 19:30 to support, Asama had to withdraw when additional Russian battleships entered firing range. The next morning, she rendezvoused with Tōgō's 1st Division before returning to the 3rd Division. On 14 August, the 3rd Division was dispatched to Qingdao to verify German internment of the battleship Tsesarevich along with three destroyers that had sought refuge there following the battle. Upon completing this mission, they resumed their blockade duties at Port Arthur.[1]
On 18 September, Asama along with the armored cruiser Iwate were reassigned to the 1st Division. When the Imperial Japanese Army began targeting Russian vessels trapped in Port Arthur using heavy-caliber howitzer artillery in early December, Tōgō commanded both cruisers to return home for refitting. Subsequently, on 30 December, Asama and armored cruiser Azuma were ordered northward toward the Tsugaru Strait. Prior to the Baltic Fleet’s arrival near Japan, these two cruisers were recalled and joined Kamimura’s 2nd Division of armored cruisers once again.[2]
Battle of Tsushima
On 27 May, as the Russian 2nd and 3rd Pacific Squadrons approached Japanese waters following their voyage from the Baltic Sea, they were detected by Japanese patrol ships early that day despite poor visibility and limited radio communication. These initial reports prompted Tōgō to send his fleet out to sea. Around 11:30, Kamimura’s squadron sighted Vice Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky’s Russian force. Kamimura advanced to approximately 8,000 meters (8,700 yd) before withdrawing under enemy fire to regroup with Tōgō’s battleships.[3] Positioned fifth in a line of six ships when Tōgō commenced firing at the Russian fleet at 14:10, Asama primarily targeted the battleship Oslyabya. At 14:28 she sustained a hit from a 12-inch (305 mm) shell that disabled her steering gear temporarily. She dropped out of formation for repairs which lasted six minutes. While attempting to rejoin Kamimura’s force, she incurred two additional hits from twelve-inch shells causing severe flooding that increased her draft by about 5 feet (1.5 m) and slowed her speed. Nevertheless, by 15:15 she managed to link up with the 1st Division and later attempted to return to her original division at 15:50. However, damage sustained from a six-inch shell at 16:10 that breached the base of her rear funnel reduced boiler draught until repairs were completed twenty minutes later. This delay prevented her from taking position behind Iwate until approximately 17:05.[4]
Afterwards at about 17:30 Kamimura led his division on an unsuccessful pursuit of several Russian cruisers leaving Tōgō’s battleships unaccompanied. He abandoned this chase near 18:03 and altered course northward to reunite with Tōgō’s main force. Around 18:30 his ships sighted the rear segment of the Russian battleline and commenced firing when closing within a range of roughly 8000–9000 meters. There is no recorded evidence of significant damage inflicted on the Russians during this engagement; they ceased firing by about 19:30 and rejoined Tōgō’s fleet by nightfall at approximately 20:08. Overnight flooding aboard Asama worsened forcing her to halt at around 06:30 for nearly an hour before resuming movement.[5] The following morning surviving Russian vessels were spotted again and Japanese forces opened fire near 10:30 while maintaining a distance beyond effective Russian counterfire range. Rear Admiral Nikolai Nebogatov opted for surrender as his ships could neither retaliate nor close distance effectively. Shortly before dusk around 18:00 the aging Russian armored cruiser Dmitrii Donskoi was sighted; Asama received orders from Tōgō to assist in pursuing her alongside protected cruisers from the 4th Division. By nightfall when she linked up with these units, Dmitrii Donskoi had taken shelter in shallow waters where she was found next morning prepared for scuttling after most crew disembarked. The Japanese attempt to capture her failed when she capsized and sank.[6] Throughout this battle Asama suffered hits from three twelve-inch shells, two 9-inch (229 mm), plus approximately seven smaller caliber rounds,[7] resulting in eleven fatalities and thirteen wounded crew members.[8] Repairs commenced upon arrival at Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 30 May.[9] Later that year on September 15th during a victory review in Tokyo Bay, she carried Emperor Meiji through the assembled fleet.[8]
From June 1st, 1910 until April 1st,1911 Asama served within the Training Squadron and undertook a training voyage alongside naval cadets across North America and Central America including Hawaii between October16th ,1910 and March6th ,1911 accompanied by protected cruiser Kasagi. This marked her first of approximately twelve training cruises continuing until1935; another notable cruise spanned from April20th through August11th ,1914.[10]
World War I
On 14 September 1914, Asama departed from Yokosuka as a component of the 1st South Seas Squadron, tasked with locating Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee's German East Asia Squadron within the South Sea Islands. On 25 October, the cruiser was reassigned and sent to Honolulu, Hawaii, to assist in preventing the German gunboat SMS Geier from leaving port, alongside the former Russian battleship Hizen. Following the internment of the gunboat on 8 November, Asama and Hizen proceeded to join the American Expeditionary Squadron[Note 1] at Magdalena Bay, Baja California on the 22nd. The squadron then advanced southward, patrolling the western shores of South America in search of German commerce raiders. After receiving news on 11 December of Britain's triumph at the Battle of the Falkland Islands, they shifted northward to patrol Central America's western coast and subsequently moved further north to conduct searches in Mexican and U.S. territorial waters during January.[11]
On 28 January, Asama conducted operations near Mazatlán before investigating the barren and waterless bay at Puerto San Bartolomé in Baja California. Captain Yoshioka Hansaku planned to replenish coal supplies there from the British collier SS Lena. However, on 31 January 1915, the cruiser struck an uncharted rock at the bay's entrance and became firmly lodged. The collision caused a breach approximately 15 meters (49 ft 3 in) long, which flooded both boiler rooms entirely and allowed about 1.2 meters (4 ft) of water into the engine room. Initial efforts to free the vessel were unsuccessful; consequently, crew members began offloading stores and deploying kedge anchors to stabilize the hull and prevent further bottom damage. That evening, the collier SS Boyne arrived and was dispatched to San Diego to notify Japanese authorities since Asama had lost power and Lena lacked radio equipment.[11]
The armored cruiser Izumo, flagship of Rear Admiral Moriyama Keizaburo, commander of the squadron, reached the site on 12 February and immediately requested salvage and repair vessels be sent. On 18 March, the protected cruiser Chitose along with supply ship SS Konan Maru arrived; they were followed on 19 March by Asama's sister ship Tokiwa and repair ship Kamakura Maru. Vice Admiral Tochinai Sojiro, aboard Tokiwa, assumed command from Moriyama, who was scheduled for homeward return. Salvage operations intensified with the arrival of repair ship Kantō on 24 March, bringing over 250 skilled shipwrights from Yokosuka Naval Arsenal to aid in recovery. By 14 April, more than 1,600 metric tons (1,600 long tons) of debris had been removed from Asama. Detailed examination revealed that the forward boiler room suffered a hole measuring approximately 7.8 meters (25.5 ft) by 0.9 meters (3 ft), while a hole in the aft boiler room measured around 2.1 meters (7 ft) by 10.2 centimeters (4 in). Given this extensive hull damage, pumping out 6,764 metric tons (6,657 long tons) of water was insufficient to fully dewater the ship. On 8 May, at high tide, Asama was successfully refloated but still required an additional three months of repairs before regaining minimal seaworthiness. The vessel underwent watertight integrity testing on 21 August outside the bay and departed two days later at a speed of 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph), escorted by Chitose and Kantō, bound for temporary repairs at the British naval base in Esquimalt, British Columbia. During this transit, continuous pumping was necessary at a rate between 710 to 810 metric tons (700 to 800 long tons) per hour. Repairs carried out in Esquimalt reduced water ingress substantially to about 100 metric tons (100 long tons) per hour before she set sail for Yokosuka on 23 October. Arrival occurred on 18 December, with Emperor Taishō receiving her officers at the Imperial Palace two days later.[11] Comprehensive restoration—including replacement of boilers with sixteen Miyabara water-tube boilers and removal of her bow torpedo tube—was completed by March 1917.[8][12] Between 13 April and 4 August, Asama served as flagship for Destroyer Squadron (Suiraisentai) 2 before transferring on 25 August to duty with the Training Squadron. Alongside Iwate, she undertook cruises along North and Central America's western coasts, Hawaii, and South Sea Islands from 2 March until 6 July 1918.[13]
Interwar Service
Following the conclusion of World War I, Asama was predominantly utilized for extended oceanic navigation training aimed at officer cadets. On 21 August 1920, she embarked on a training expedition to South America and Polynesia, which continued until 2 April 1921.[14] On 1 September 1921, she was reclassified as a first-class coastal defense vessel. The following year saw the removal of all main deck artillery, including six 6-inch guns and four 12-pounder guns, with their casemates subsequently sealed. Additionally, all QF 2.5-pounder weapons were taken off, and a single 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type anti-aircraft gun was installed.[15]
Starting from 26 June 1922, Asama recommenced her training voyages approximately every two years, visiting destinations such as Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean Sea. These cruises ceased after she ran aground during the night of 13 October 1935 near the north-northwest of the Kurushima Strait in the Inland Sea. The grounding inflicted severe damage to her hull's underside, and following repairs at Kure Naval Arsenal, she was judged unfit for further sea duty. Subsequently, on 5 July 1938, she was reassigned as a stationary training vessel for the Kure Naval Corps.[16]
Service During World War II
In July 1942, Asama underwent reclassification to serve exclusively as a training ship.[17] On 5 August that year, she was towed to Shimonoseki, where she functioned as a gunnery training platform.[12] Throughout the Pacific conflict, she was disarmed except for retaining several of her original 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type anti-aircraft guns.[17] The vessel was officially removed from the naval registry on 30 November 1945. Dismantling took place at the Hitachi Zosen Corporation’s shipyard in Innoshima from mid-August 1946 until late March 1947.[12]
External links
Template:Asama class cruiser Template:January 1915 shipwrecks
pl:Krążowniki pancerne typu Asama
- ↑ Corbett, I, pp. 389, 397–98, 417, 425, 451–52
- ↑ Corbett, II, pp. 47, 104, 153, 217
- ↑ Corbett, II, pp. 232, 235
- ↑ Campbell, Part 2, pp. 128–32; Part 4, p. 263
- ↑ Campbell, Part 3, pp. 186–87, 191
- ↑ Corbett, II, pp. 319–20, 329–31
- ↑ Campbell, Part 4, p. 263
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Brook, p.110
- ↑ Corbett, II, p.336
- ↑ Lacroix & Wells ,pp .656–59
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Estes
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Lacroix & Wells, p. 659
- ↑ Lacroix & Wells, pp. 552, 657
- ↑ Lacroix & Wells, p. 657
- ↑ Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 73
- ↑ Lacroix & Wells, pp. 657–59
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Fukui, p. 53
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